Obake

OBAKE is a word which refers to a class of Yokai, Japanese preternatural creatures, and whose strict translation is “A Thing That Changes” or “Shapeshifter” but is often also loosely taken to mean “Ghost” or “Ghost of a deceased human being”. It is also the name of the band originally formed by Zu bass-player Massimo Pupillo, experimental guitarist and producer Eraldo Bernocchi, opera, experimental singer Lorenzo Esposito Fornasari and Hungarian drummer Balazs Pandi.

Massimo Pupillo has since been replaced by progressive rock legend Colin Edwin on bass duties, while Balazs Pandi has been replaced by in demand Italian drummer Jacopo Pierazzuoli (of Morkobot fame).

Draugr

After releasing their debut album in 2011, the self-titled ‘Obake’ and the follow-up ‘Mutations’ in 2014 to widespread acclaim of the British and continental press, Obake are back with ‘Draugr’, which signals both a return to the origins of the band and a purification of its sound.

This shift is immediately apparent in the choice of title: while the Japanese term Obake (???) signifies ‘that which changes’ or ‘shapeshifter’ or more generally ‘ghost of a departed’, now the chosen title for the band’s third release, ‘Draugr’ is a term of indo-european origin which means ‘creature returning from the dead’.

The compactness and formal cohesion of band and release name reflect the newly found balance in the band, now featuring their live drummer Jacopo Pierazzuoli (of Morkobot and Kings Of Fire fame), Colin Edwin on electric bass (member of Metallic Taste Of Blood with Eraldo Bernocchi and of o.R.k. with Lorenzo Esposito Fornasari), Lorenzo Esposito Fornasari (also present on Berserk!) on guitars and voice and Eraldo Bernocchi on guitars.

The multiplicity of collaborations between the members of Obake have enabled them to develop a compact and unique sound that is as extreme (in its doom and grindcore roots) as it is borderless (in depth explorations of ambient music accompanied by colorings of jazz, progressive rock and noise); Obake’s sound brings the listener back to the roots of rock, along the way drawing vital lymph from Popol Vuh, AshRa Tempel, via Slayer, Sunn O))), Melvins and Coil.

Mutations

This second album, Mutations arrives at the place where the energies of metal fuse with ambient electronica, jazz, and noise with the precision of math-rock and the groove of blues.

Obake's sound harks back to the dawn of hard-rock, drawing upon a variety of influences from Sunn 0))), Popul Vuh, Ashra Tempel as much as Slayer, Tool, Melvins and Coil. Obake are made all the more distinctive by the fluid lyrical delivery and musings of a commanding operatic voice. Imposing in its darkness, encompassing in its beauty and ever powerful, Obake have lost nothing of their might since the release of their debut, if anything, they are more captivating now than ever before.

Mutations was recorded by Daniel Sandor at Metropol Studio in Budapest, produced and mixed by Eraldo Bernocchi and Lorenzo Esposito Fornasari at The Place in Tuscany and mastered by Michael Fossenkemper at Turtletone Studio - NYC.

Mutations (CD)

£8.99

Mutations (COMBO)

£19.99

Mutations (Download - FLAC)

£5.49

Mutations (Download - HD FLAC)

£9.99

Mutations (Download - MP3)

£4.49

Mutations (Single LP)

£13.99

Obake (album)

Obake is the first (self-titled) recording by Obake. In the spirit of all things RareNoiseRecords, it is the place where the energies of Doom and Drone Metal fuse with Ambient Electronica, noise, the exactness of math-rock and the fluid lyrical delivery and musings of a commanding operatic voice.

Obake build on the foundations of these different genres and creatively weld them together with expert precision.

Imposing in its darkness, encompassing in its beauty and always powerful, Obake is a captivating listen from start to end. A recording that will surely appeal to fans of Sunn o)))), Popol Vuh, Ashra Tempel as much as Slayer, Melvins and Coil.

"Yet more proof, if it were still needed, that heavy metal continues to throw up a sizeable chunk of the most forward looking music being released at the present moment. "The Quietus

"Obake have produced an album that resonates, a truly captivating and at times unsettling listen that if you permit you will lose yourself within; in simple terms it's a doom metal album, but this is so much more ambitious and even experimental which is down to the abilities of the musicians involved – if you have ever listened to Earth, Sunn O))), Popul Vuh or Coil then Obake are worthy of your attention… Just don't go on your own…"Louder Than War

"It's not a traditional dish by any means, but by God is it exquisite."The Skinny